Putting leadership into practice
As a team leader, Yingling brings that mindset into how he works with his team. His father, a former carman gang leader, prepared him for the realities of representing both frontline employees and leadership expectations.
“He told me you’ve got to be able to handle both sides,” Yingling said. “You have to respect people, stay professional, and make sure messages flow either way.”
In practice, that guidance shows up in his focus on safety, accountability, and communication on the overhaul line.
“I tell the team, if something’s not safe or there’s a better way, speak up,” he said. “We’re going to address it, and we’re going to fix it.”
Where generations meet
The legacy feels most tangible when Yingling sees his sons working in the same facility where earlier generations built their careers.
“When I walk through the shop and see them working, it makes me the proudest dad in the world,” he said. “It shows the railroad really does build something across generations.”
For the Yingling family, the railroad has meant more than steady work. It has created opportunity, shaped values, and kept generations connected to their community. That continuity, from the earliest days of railroading in Altoona to today’s evolving technology and shop operations, reflects something deeper than tradition.
It reflects a shared commitment to doing the work right, adapting as the industry advances, and passing that standard on to the next generation.
